CM's comment on Ishrat Jahan ambulance irresponsible: Mumbra activist

An activist from Mumbra, whose foundation and locals had funded an ambulance service named after Ishrat Jahan, has expressed displeasure over the recent statement made by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Fadnavis had recently spoken against the service named after Jahan, who was killed in an alleged fake encounter. The activist said that the ambulance is not in use for past two months and Ishrat Jahan was not an LeT operative, as the court is yet to decide on the same.

Also read - Ambulance service named after Ishrat Jahan should stop: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

Rauf Lala is fighting to prove Ishrat Jahan was innocent

Fadnavis recently said that it is wrong to operate an ambulance service named after ‘LeT operative' Ishrat Jahan, and it should be stopped by those running it. The CM had stated that they will seek information about the people running such ambulances, and they should themselves stop the service.

Lala says the ambulance service has been stopped as locals could not maintain it

Opposing the statement, an activist from Mumbra, Rauf Lala, the founder of My Mumbra Foundation, who is fighting to prove Ishrat Jahan was innocent said, "The Chief Minister holds a constitutional post. He should talk responsibly. The Ishrat Jahan matter is subjudice and the court hasn't yet stated if she was a terrorist or an operator."

Lala further added that the Gujarat High Court has earlier clearly said in its order, that there is no terror link to Jahan and it was a fake encounter. "The chargesheet has been produced in the court and the trial is going on. Politicians are totally depending on the statement given by terrorist David Coleman Headley, and it should not be believed. It is yet to be proved how authentic it is," added Lala.

In 2011, after the Gujarat High Court established Jahan was innocent, residents of Mumbra, along with the My Mumbra Foundation, began contributing cash towards an ambulance.

Service halted
"Since past two months the ambulance service has been stopped, as the residents were not able to maintain it. The maintenance of the ambulance is high and monthly payment of the driver is also not affordable. We don't want this to be a political issue," added Lala.

After the statement of David Headley, a month ago Ishrat's mother, Shamima Kauser had spoken to mid-day about it. "It's the same old lie again. Three reports, - Magistrate SP Tamang report, The SIT (State Investigation Team) and CID report - clearly proved in court that Ishrat was innocent and she was killed in a fake encounter," she said.